Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has warned users of Red Hat Linux that they will have to pay Microsoft for its intellectual property. "People who use Red Hat, at least with respect to our intellectual property, in a sense have an obligation to compensate us," Ballmer said last week at a company event in London discussing online services in the UK.

I do not know the age of Mr. Balmer but is he not to young to suffer from Alzheimer's disease? This is exactly the same thing he told several times before and nothing ever happened. I always wonder how people like mr. Balmer get to positions like that, it cannot be because of his outstanding intelligence. As a European I have severe trouble understanding this "american way" and I am very glad mrs. Neelie Kroes does not give in to some silly demands from the usa about our law-system. I like a lot of americans but somehow the Balmers drift to the surface how come?